The Royal Navy’s huge £3 billion aircraft carrier ‘Big Lizzie’ has arrived in the US ahead of the landmark moment when US fighter jets come into land on its flight deck.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, which weighs in at 65,000 tonnes, left Portsmouth Naval Base on August 18 and docked at Mayport, Florida after just under three weeks on the open seas.

Posting on Twitter on Thursday, the HMS Queen Elizabeth account said: “Delighted to announce we have safely transited the pond and are proceeding alongside Mayport Florida for our first port call on #Westlant18 to re-supply before beginning final preps for #F35ondeck.

“Time to break out Tropical uniform and the sunscreen.”

Shortly after, the account added: “Our first line is secure, HMS Queen Elizabeth is now alongside Mayport Florida.

“What better way to announce our arrival than with a nod to our Lady Sponsor performed splendidly by the Royal Marines Band Service #GodSaveTheQueen.”

Footage posted of the enormous carrier shows the Union Jack being raised as the band played the national anthem after docking at the American naval base.

During its trip to North America, the carrier will embark two US F-35B test aircraft based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, which are expected to carry out 500 landings.

‘Big Lizzie’ will land fighter jets on its flight deck for the first time in a landmark moment which will come eight years since a fast yet last flew from a British aircraft carrier.

The honour of landing the first of the training jets on to the carrier will go to one of three British pilots taking part in the US deployment.

They are a Royal Navy commander, an RAF squadron leader and a civilian test pilot accompanied by a major from the US Marine Corps.

Speaking ahead of the journey to the US, Commodore Andrew Betton, commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, said that the carrier would be provided full protection in the face of Russian threats during its journey.

He said: “Russian submarines are more active in the North Atlantic than they have been since the Cold War and we take that very seriously, the ship will be well protected as she makes her transit across the Atlantic.

“We will seek to operate professionally and within the standard of laws of the high seas operating in international waters going about our business.

“We are not seeking confrontation, we are heading to the east coast of the United States to conduct trials.”

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Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.